With this annual report, the 35th since the founding of the Studentenwerk Oberfranken, we would like to inform our partners at the universities, the state institutions supporting the Studentenwerk as well as all interested parties about the most important events and figures of the 2013 financial year. The annual report provides you with information about important operational developments and economic framework data and also shows you which challenges the Studentenwerk Oberfranken will have to face in the near future.

The 2013 financial year was marked by a further increase in the number of students at Bavarian universities. Thanks to numerous investments in the infrastructure as well as a targeted personnel development, the Studentenwerk Oberfranken was well prepared for this situation and was able to cope excellently with the increased demand in the canteens, in the hostels but also in childcare. I would like to express my special thanks to all the staff of the Studentenwerk Oberfranken, without whose tireless commitment these challenges could not have been mastered.

The issue of increasing student numbers will continue to accompany the Studentenwerk in the coming years. In order to be well prepared for this situation, it is essential for the Studentenwerk to continue to grow along with the student numbers. Accordingly, the planning and completion of a total of four hostels and the construction of two additional crèches are being expedited. The targeted establishment of a social counselling service and the further expansion of the psychological counselling capacity will also be one of the focal points of the Studentenwerk's work in the near future. Through its work, the Studentenwerk continually secures and expands the social infrastructure at the universities it supervises, making it an indispensable and important factor for students to successfully complete their studies. The Studentenwerk will do everything in its power to ensure that the motto "Damit Studieren gelingt" (So that studying is successful), under which all German Studentenwerke work, also becomes reality for students in Upper Franconia.

Overall, the 2013 financial year can be considered a very good and economically successful one. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have contributed to this result, especially the staff of the Studentenwerk, but also those responsible at the , who have once again accompanied the Studentenwerk with a sense of what is appropriate.

My special thanks go to the members of the Board of Directors for their consistently good and constructive cooperation with the management of the Studentenwerk. Only through their responsible work and their understanding of the concerns of the Studentenwerk is it possible to further develop it and adapt it to the constantly growing demands.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to all those who supported me in this reporting year and remain hopeful that this will also be the case in the years to come.